The Scarlet Letter
Chapter 21: Scarlet Letter (3)
1 Quote: “Children have always a sympathy in the agitations of those connected with them; always, especially, a sense of any trouble or impending revolution, of whatever kind, in domestic circumstances; and therefore Pearl, who was the gem on her mother's unquiet bosom, betrayed, by the very dance of her spirits, the emotions which none could detect in the marble passiveness of Hester's brow.”(Chapter 21)
Summary: Pearl knows that something is going on that her mother is not telling her. So she proceeds to acting wild until her mother makes her stop and then has her look around and notice how happy everyone is.
Analysis: Something is going to happen on this election Sunday, Hester, Pearl and Dimmesdale are going to attempt to escape, but some event is going to take place that will hinder them from going on their voyage and Hester will come upon a shocking surprise after she talks to the commander of the Bristol ship.
2 Quote: “What a strange, sad man is he!" said the child, as if speaking partly to herself. "In the dark night-time, he calls us to him, and holds thy hand and mine, as when we stood with him on the scaffold yonder! And in the deep forest, where only the old trees can hear, and the strip of sky see it, he talks with thee, sitting on a heap of moss! And he kisses my forehead, too, so that the little brook would hardly wash it off! But, here, in the sunny day, and among all the people, he knows us not; nor must we know him! A strange, sad man is he, with his hand always over his heart!"(Chapter 21)
Summary: Pearl is speaking about Dimmesdale; at this point she still is unaware that Dimmesdale is her father. She is now realizing that he only speaks to them and pays them any attention is when no one else is around, in the dark woods where no one can see. She is seeing that he treats them very differently and she just can’t seem to understand why. She points out that he always has his hand over his chest, but she
1 Quote: “Children have always a sympathy in the agitations of those connected with them; always, especially, a sense of any trouble or impending revolution, of whatever kind, in domestic circumstances; and therefore Pearl, who was the gem on her mother's unquiet bosom, betrayed, by the very dance of her spirits, the emotions which none could detect in the marble passiveness of Hester's brow.”(Chapter 21)
Summary: Pearl knows that something is going on that her mother is not telling her. So she proceeds to acting wild until her mother makes her stop and then has her look around and notice how happy everyone is.
Analysis: Something is going to happen on this election Sunday, Hester, Pearl and Dimmesdale are going to attempt to escape, but some event is going to take place that will hinder them from going on their voyage and Hester will come upon a shocking surprise after she talks to the commander of the Bristol ship.
2 Quote: “What a strange, sad man is he!" said the child, as if speaking partly to herself. "In the dark night-time, he calls us to him, and holds thy hand and mine, as when we stood with him on the scaffold yonder! And in the deep forest, where only the old trees can hear, and the strip of sky see it, he talks with thee, sitting on a heap of moss! And he kisses my forehead, too, so that the little brook would hardly wash it off! But, here, in the sunny day, and among all the people, he knows us not; nor must we know him! A strange, sad man is he, with his hand always over his heart!"(Chapter 21)
Summary: Pearl is speaking about Dimmesdale; at this point she still is unaware that Dimmesdale is her father. She is now realizing that he only speaks to them and pays them any attention is when no one else is around, in the dark woods where no one can see. She is seeing that he treats them very differently and she just can’t seem to understand why. She points out that he always has his hand over his chest, but she